A common literary storytelling device uses an off-page (or off-screen) character to drive a story’s plot and character arc. Readers usually never see these characters. They typically appear as ghosts, in dreams, or as memories. While they don’t always interact directly with the characters, their presence is known and influences decisions.
This device is used effectively by Ryan Coogler and co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole to chart a new course in the Marvel Universe through Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The technique creates an effective break in the story to send it in a new direction. In the process, Coogler further establishes himself as one of the industry’s most
